Spring-wheel.



J. M. ALLEN.-

SPRING WHEEL.

APPLICATION nus!) APR. a, 1516. RENEWED OCT. 31. 1917.

1,262,902, Patented Apr.l6,1918..

N PAENT FFEQEQ JAMES M. ALLEN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSQUBI, ASSIGIATDB, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, T0 FELLHAUER-ALLEN' MANUFACTURING COMEAHY, OF ST. LOUIS, MIS- SOUEI, A CORPQRATIGN OF MISSOURI.

SPRING-WHEEL.

Application filed April 8, 1916, Serial No. 89,759.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jar-ans M. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, fvfilSSOUll, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Spring-N heels, of which the following is a full clear, and eXact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to a spring wheel, the principal object of my invention being to provide a comparatively simple wheel which can be easily and cheaply constructed and the spokes of which wheel are of such construction as to produce a considerable degree of resiliency between the rim and hub.

Further objects of my invention are to produce an all metal wheel which has therequired degree of resiliency and to provide a construction wherein a single plece of metal is bent double and shaped so as to form two spokes of the wheel. I With the foregoing and other ob ects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a part of a wheel of my improved construction.

Fig. 2 is a section taken approximately on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the section of metal which is bent double to form a pair of spokes.

Fig. 1 is an edge view of the inner end of a pair of spokes.

In the construction of my improved wheel, I make use of a hub which comprises a tubular body portion 10 on both ends of wh1ch are formed integral flanges 11 and 12. The flange 12 which is formed on the inner end of the body 10 is preferably wider than the other flange, and formed in the edges of these flanges and preferably arranged at equal distances apart are circular apertures 13 and extending therefrom to the edges of said flanges are slots 14.

The rim 15 of my improved wheel may be *of any ordinary construction, preferably a ring or band of metal havlng 1ts side edges bent to form tire retaining flanges.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

Renewed Gctober 31, 1917. Serial No. 199,613.

The resilient spokes forming a part of my invention are formed of sections of thin flat metal, such as steel, each section being bent at its center to form a circular loop 16, this loop being seated in one of the apertures 13 and being fixed to the metal of the flange in any suitable manner, preferably by being brazed or welded.

Portions of the sections of metal immediately adjacent to the central loop 16 occupy the corresponding slot 1 1 and immediately outside the edge of the flange. The two parts of the section of metal are bent so as to occupy a plane at right angles to the plane occupied by the loop 16, and the outer portions of the members thus bent which form the resilient spokes 17 are spread apart and bent substantially on compound curved lines and their outer ends 18 are fiXed in any suitable manner to the inside of the rim 15, preferably by being brazed or spot-welded.

The spokes which are secured to the outer flange 11 are bent so that their outer ends are secured to the inner portion of the rim 15 and the spokes which are secured to flange 12. are bent so that their outer ends are secured to the outer portion of rim 15 and thus the entire outer series of spokes cross the inner series between the hub and rim. This arrangement in addition to giving the required resiliency to the wheel, materially braces and strengthens the entire structure particularly against side strains impressed on the rim portion of the wheel while the same is in service.

By my improved construction of spokes, an all metal wheel can be very cheaply constructed and by the peculiar arrangement of the spokes with respect to the hub and rim, said wheel will have the desired strength and resiliency and in the event of breakage of the spokes, the same can be readily removed and new spokes inserted.

It will be readily understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved spring wheel can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claim.

I claim:

The hereindescribed spring wheel comprising a hub, flanges on the ends thereof, which flanges are spaced a substantial distance apart and provided in their outer edges With pockets, a metal rim and spokes formed of flat strips of resilient metal, each strip being bent at its center to form a loop which is seated in a recess in one of the hub flanges, the material forming the legs of each spoke being bent a quarter turn at points near the loop so that the outer portions of said legs occupy planes substantially at right angles to the plane occupied by the loop, the outer portions of the legs of each spoke being spread apart, all of the spokes on one hub flange being bent laterally with respect to the plane occupied by rim so that the legs of one set of spokes cross the 5 legs of-the other set, and the outer ends of all the legs being re-bent and secured to the inner face of the rim.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses, 20 this 31st day of March, 1916.

JAMES "M. ALLEN. lVitnesses M. P. SMITH, WM. JAMES.

Sonics of this patent may be obtained for live cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washingtcmfi. *3, 

